Mike Alvarado touts power at L.A. workout, before bout vs. Herrera next week

Mike Alvarado shadow boxes at the Fortune Gym in Los Angeles at an open training session on April 3, 2012. He was preparing for an April 14 fight against Mauricio Herrera in Las Vegas. (Chris Farina, Top Rank)

Mike Alvarado got out of Denver in recent weeks, going all the way to Los Angeles to find somebody tough enough to fight. But he brought his hometown with him.

The undefeated boxer, among the top contenders at junior welterweight, has been training for an April 14 fight in Las Vegas against Mauricio Herrera of Riverside, Calif. Alvarado went to L.A. to find veteran sparring partners.

On Tuesday, at an open workout in front of reporters at the Fortune Gym on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, Alvardo stood out in orange and blue — he was the fighter in Broncos gear.

And, after taking football questions, he weighed in on Peyton Manning and Tim Tebow.

"It was a good trade," Alvarado said. "It was something good to happen for Denver."

The 31-year-old Alvarado, it seems, is always looking out for Denver, especially for its boxing fans. He even has 3-0-3 tattooed on his chest.

At 32-0, with 23 knockouts, the former Colorado high school wrestling champ from Skyview in Thornton is coming off an impressive, final-seconds KO of Breidis Prescott in November on the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez title fight.

Next week, he'll face another veteran in Herrera.

"Let's see what Herrera brings to the ring," Alvarado said Tuesday. "I have a lot of power and he will have to deal with it. I have been training hard the last six weeks in Los Angeles. I'm ready.

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"This is the best I have felt in my career. I am coming off a soul-searching fight so this fight means a lot to me. My A-game is on right now — speed, power, footwork."

Herrera said he recognizes Alvarado's power punches, but said he has a counter.

"Great fighters bring out the best in me and that's what I am expecting when I fight Alvarado. We are going to war."

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